There is no shortage of "To-Do" lists for aspiring entrepreneurs, but an event Wednesday on The George Washington University campus highlighted what "not" to do when pursuing a business idea.

A panel of experienced female entrepreneurs sought to uncover the secrets of sucessful, busy, and happy entrepreneurs who have learned that sometimes, you just have to say "no." The event also included:

• How to deal with feeling overwhelmed
• How to determine top priorities
• Key decision-making frameworks
• Communication tips for saying “no” gracefully
• Real stories

The panelists at the were Shana Glockfield, founder of D.C. Concierge; Susan Matthews Apgood, founder and president of NewsGeneration; Anna Birch, owner of Virginia-based Adventure Links; and Ellice Perez, general manager of Zipcar in DC.

Many stories were shared, including one from Apgood, who started her business in 1997. She told the crowd that it's important to take one thing at a time and to use your time wisely. She also warned against the siren song of planning too much, recalling friends who accomplished very little despite being motivated, because they spent half of their time planning what to do.

More insights from the event are available online.

The event was sponsored by The Hot Mommas Project, an award-winning women’s leadership venture housed at the George Washington University School of Business. Their mission is to increase self-efficacy of women and girls across the globe through exposure to role models.  To accomplish their mission, they have built the world’s largest library of teachable role models for women and girls. Learn more at www.HotMommasProject.org.

tags: washington dc